Submitted by Community Farmland Trust
On October 17, 2013 South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust (SSCFLT) and Heernett Environmental Foundation/Creekside Conservancy (HEF/CSC) announced ownership of a 147 acre farm they are calling Scatter Creek Community Farm. The farm is located near Rochester, in south Thurston County. The historic farm house and several farm buildings are now owned by the farm partners, Colin Barricklow and Genine Bradwin. They are the owners and operators of Kirsop Farm, which grows and sells organic produce through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, farmers markets, and direct sales to local retailers, restaurants, and schools.
Two-thirds of the Community Farm is held by the SSCFLT under their Community Farmland Trust Model with the Kirsop Farm leasing and farming most of the working lands. By the spring of 2014, a local nonprofit, Enterprise for Equity, will use a portion of the land to host a “farm incubator” new farmer education and training program for low income households. Heernett Environmental Foundation holds the remaining land in conservation for native wildlife and for the protection of salmon habitat and ground water in perpetuity.
This land purchase and the agricultural ground lease with Kirsop Farm marks the culmination of years of work by the non-profit membership organization, SSCFLT. The 140 member organization’s first priority for farmland preservation is the Community Land Trust (CLT) Model. Under a CLT a land trust holds fee title to farmland, a leasing farmer or farmers own farm buildings and hold a 99 year lease for the purpose of producing food for our local community. Kirsop Farm plans to grow food on a portion of the land in 2014 while keeping some land in hay production in the short-term as they expand their existing local organic farming operations to fully use all the land.
“We are overjoyed at achieving our long-held goal of owning a farm consistent with the Community Farmland Trust model,” said SSCFLT Board Chair, Russell Fox. “By purchasing this land and leasing it to farmers, we are not only providing access to farmland for individuals who do not have the capital to purchase land themselves, we are contribute to our area’s local food security for generations to come while also providing rural economic development opportunities and restoring important salmon habitat. Further, we are making a commitment to be stewards of this farmland in perpetuity.”
SSCFLT’s Farmland Preservation Committee co-Chair, John MacLean, said “We’re grateful to our partners and everyone involved for working with us to the completion of this transaction. We want to develop this farm for the benefit of the South Thurston County farm community and the local food economy. Part of that effort is the farm incubator, which aims to grow the next generation of farmers by providing affordable access to small farm plots and supporting infrastructure and training. We’re excited for the work ahead and encourage others to join us in that work.”
Major funding sources for the acquisition of Scatter Creek Community Farm include the Thurston County Conservation Futures program, the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, and Kirsop Farm. In addition, The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the Squaxin Island Tribe, Puyallup Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Tides Foundation and the membership of South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust have all made significant contributions toward helping make acquisition of this farm possible. The SSCFLT Board of Directors has received important technical assistance from Equity Trust, Trout Unlimited, Capitol Land Trust, and the Pacific Groundwater Group.
About South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust
South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving farmland and to keeping it farmed forever. Based in Olympia, WA, it concentrates on the areas south of Puget Sound. The organization consists of a working board of directors who contribute their commitment, skills and experience, a part time grant writer/project development coordinator, several dozen volunteers, and a general membership of about 140. Our mission is promoting vibrant local food and farming systems through community supported farmland preservation strategies, educational outreach, and partnerships that increase opportunities for farms and farmers to flourish.
For more information contact Loretta Seppanen, SSCFLT Board of Directors Member, communityfarmlandtrust@gmail.com; (360) 786-9775; www.communityfarmlandtrust.org/
